Japan to Ease Restrictions on Weapons Exports

[asianobserve]

By Sachiko Sakamaki - Dec 27, 2011
Japan to Ease Restrictions on Weapons Exports - Bloomberg


Japan said it would ease some restrictions on weapons exports and allow them for international projects, resurrecting a proposal made last year to benefit the country's defense industry.

Japan's government announced the change today in a paper distributed to reporters in Tokyo. The trade ministry will make a ruling on each export case individually, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said in a briefing.

The decision follows Japan's move last week to award Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) a contract to supply F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, a deal Fujimura said today is unrelated to the export rule change. Lockheed has about 700 F-35 orders from overseas, and the U.S. contractor will build 42 of the planes for Japan, according to Japan's defense ministry.

Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (7011), Toray Industries Inc. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (7012), are crucial suppliers in the civilian aerospace industry. Tokyo-based Toray supplies carbon fiber for Boeing Co.'s newest passenger jet, the 787 Dreamliner, as well as for European rival Airbus SAS.

"It has become the mainstream among developed countries to improve the performance of defense equipment and to deal with rising costs of equipment by participation in international joint development and production projects," according to a section of Japan's defense policy guidelines from last year. "Japan will study measures to respond to such major changes."

Japan has restricted weapons exports since the 1960s and 1970s, citing the nation's pacifist constitution and the need to prevent Cold War enemies from obtaining arms.

 

[Ray]

Good show.

Their economy will pick up!

 

[asianobserve]

Some very interesting modern Japanese military hardware:

1. Mitsubishi F-2

2. Kawasaki C-2 (A400M challenger)

3. Kawasaki P-1 (Maritime Surveillance and Anti-submarine)

4. OH-1 Ninja Attack Helicopter

5. Type 90 MBT

6. Type 10 MBT

7. Type 87 (Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun)

8. Type 89 IFV

9. Type 96 WFV

10. Light Armored Vehicle

11. Hyuga Class Destroyer

12. Atago Class Destroyer

13. Soryu Class Submarine

 

[Tshering22]

^^Wonder whom are they going to use all that against. So much potential bundled just because of self-guilt.

 

[Apollyon]

But to Whom ?? ...to USA, NATO, South Korea and Australia

 

[asianobserve]

^^Wonder whom are they going to use all that against. So much potential bundled just because of self-guilt.

You have to arm enough to ensure that you don't have to use those arms.

 

[asianobserve]

But to Whom ?? ...to USA, NATO, South Korea and Australia

Singapore. Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, or maybe India? The more units are sold the lower the prices will become... BTW, the Kawasaki C-2 did not break the treasury to develop and it could be better than the A400M with possible commercial use ...

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Japan Eases Long-Standing Arms Export Ban

Japan Eases Long-Standing Arms Export Ban

Japan Moves Toward Easing Military Exports Ban

TOKYO—The Japanese government is expected to announce this week long-awaited steps toward easing a decades-old ban on weapons exports, a move that will lower costs of arms purchases and help the country's defense contractors participate in more global development projects.

"The idea is to create a new framework," Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa told reporters Saturday. He said that he had "called for starting a detailed study" of the curbs, adding that "I think that direction is fine."

A formal announcement could some as soon as Tuesday, officials said.

The Japanese government has long been under pressure from defense contractors at home, and from U.S. military officials, to ease the limits on selling military equipment abroad, which date back to 1967, a time when the country was struggling to reconcile its pacifist constitution with the growing export success of its technology manufacturers.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...270959370.html

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Japan relaxes longtime weapons export ban

Japan relaxes longtime weapons export ban

SEOUL — Japan on Tuesday relaxed its long-standing ban on the export of weapons and military equipment, a move that is expected to boost ailing Japanese defense companies and create opportunities for international projects.:cool2:

The change, coming after more than a year of government discussion, reflects concern that Japan has fallen behind in weapons development, with its major companies unable to mass-produce and sell their technology abroad. It also helps the country at a time when the government has trimmed its budget for weapons procurement, despite regional threats from China and North Korea.

The move, welcomed in Washington, allows Japan to take part in joint development projects on everything from fighter jets to missile defense systems. It also allows the country to supply equipment for humanitarian purposes.

The export ban dates back to 1967, when Japan established its so-called "three principles" prohibiting arms deals with communist countries, countries subject to U.N. sanctions and countries engaged in international conflicts. Several years later, Japan tightened the principles into a de facto ban on all exports.

Even after Tuesday's decision, the three original principles remain in place, a government spokesman said. But even a slight change in the weapons ban is likely to trigger unease in a nation that considers the restriction a pillar of its pacifist image.

"Concerns persist ."‰."‰. about whether Japan can prevent weapons and related technology from being leaked to strife-torn countries or terrorist groups," Japan's Kyodo news agency said in its report.

This month, Tokyo selected the U.S.-made F-35 Lightning II JSF as its new stealth fighter. In the coming years, Japan will purchase 42 jets, and the first four fighters will be produced and assembled overseas. The government expects, however, that some parts for the rest of the fighters will be produced domestically. With the relaxation on the weapons ban, contractors such as Mitsubishi Heavy can compete as long-term suppliers for some of the fighter's components.

Because of the ban, "Japan has been suffering from low economy of scale, as it was very expensive to produce arms," said Narushige Michishita, an assistant professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. "Because Japan had to be self-sufficient in producing arms, Japanese tanks cost three times more than the U.S.-made ones. It was a huge economic burden to the Japanese."

Ayako Mie contributed to this report.

Japan relaxes weapons export ban - The Washington Post

:thumb:

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Re: Japan relaxes longtime weapons export ban

I was out of touch for many days, this news is new to me..

 

[Singh]

Re: Japan relaxes longtime weapons export ban

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...apan-eases-long-standing-arms-export-ban.html

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...-japan-ease-restrictions-weapons-exports.html

 

[Zebra]

Re: Japan relaxes longtime weapons export ban

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/strategic-forces/34756-japan-eases-long-standing-arms-export-ban.html :thumb:

 

[roma]

Re: Japan relaxes longtime weapons export ban

hahahahahahah ...TOT here we go !!!

 

[rock127]

To keep China at arm's length, Japan to export arms to India

To keep China at arm's length, Japan to export arms to India


An Indian naval ship and a Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force seaplane, during a naval exercise in June 2012.

For the first time since World War II, Japan has offered to export weapons to any country and India is first on its list. This forging of close ties with India is seen as an effort by Tokyo to counter the growing Chinese influence in Asia.

The offer of weapons includes electronic warfare equipment, patrol vessels and high tech equipment. Japan has also offered to set up joint ventures (JVs) in defence in India thereby providing cutting-edge technology to the local private and public sector.
Army Chief General Bikram Singh will visit Tokyo next month. Besides delegation level talks will be held here between the Navies of the two countries in late November.Signalling a major policy shift regarding export of weapons banned since 1945, Japan has chosen India as the first country for sale of defence equipment besides offering to transfer cutting-edge technology through JVs to give a boost to Indian public and private defence companies.

Tokyo made these significant offers to New Delhi recently through official channels, sources said here on Sunday. Welcoming the gesture from one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of defence technology, India, however, informed Japan that its companies can participate through global competition. Tokyo has now allowed some of its firms to respond to the Indian Navy's tender for seaplanes.After facing nuclear holocaust in World War II, Japan, so far, produced weapons for its self-defence and practiced pacifist policies regarding export of weapons. Incidentally, Japan imports most of its big-ticket weaponry from the US through transfer of technology and, in turn, exports state-of-the-art equipment to the US.

However, Japan now wants to break this isolation due to growing economic and strategic challenges from China.Incidentally, some Japanese armament manufacturing companies for the first time took part in international defence exhibition, Def-Expo, organised in Delhi earlier this year. India plans to buy weapons and defence equipment worth over 30 billion dollars in the next five to seven years and Japan is keen to have its presence in the Indian market, sources said.

In the past few years Japan has consciously forged close strategic relations with India given its growing maritime prowess in the Indian Ocean region and Asia. Willing to export weapons to India is part of Japan's strategic vision to negate Chinese influence in East and South China Sea by having close relations with other countries like Indonesia and Philippines.Moreover, India and Japan have in the past conducted exercises between Coast Guards of two countries. For the first time they will have a full-fledged naval exercise later this year. Army Chief General Bikram Singh will also visit Tokyo early next month and is likely to explore possibilities of having first-ever joint exercises with the Japanese Army.

Besides this, Staff Exchanges between Japan Air Defence Force (ASDF) and Indian Air Force will be held in 2012 and be developed to Staff Talks at the earliest date.The groundwork for these exercises and exchanges was done by Defence Minister AK Antony during his visit to Japan in November last year. While taking stock of maritime security and anti-piracy measures with his counterpart Yasuo Ichikawa, he also stressed for closer defence ties with Japan in the coming years.

 

[sesha_maruthi27]

Re: To keep China at arm's length, Japan to export arms to India

Good move......

 

[SADAKHUSH]

Re: To keep China at arm's length, Japan to export arms to India

If China does not wake up after this development than it will be too late in few years time. Chinese leadership riding high on their economic progress which is opaque to the outside world. One of our Canadian investment advisor went on a tour of few Asian nations and came to conclusion that China's GDP is not what the Government statistics tell rest of the world but are hovering around 5.5% to 6.5% which means that they cannot afford to do a tango dance in any of the International maritime territory which will be a self sabotage.

They (China's Government) are helping in the formation of these multilateral defense alliances to their dismay therefore protesting on the streets and going on rampage by the stooges of Communist thugs will strengthen resolve of the nations in the region to unite as a deterrence to China's ambitions.

 

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

To keep China at arm's length, Japan to export arms to India

For the first time since World War II, Japan has offered to export weapons to any country and India is first on its list. This forging of close ties with India is seen as an effort by Tokyo to counter the growing Chinese influence in Asia.

The offer of weapons includes electronic warfare equipment, patrol vessels and high tech equipment. Japan has also offered to set up joint

ventures (JVs) in defence in India thereby providing cutting-edge technology to the local private and public sector.

Army Chief General Bikram Singh will visit Tokyo next month. Besides delegation level talks will be held here between the Navies of the two countries in late November.

Signalling a major policy shift regarding export of weapons banned since 1945, Japan has chosen India as the first country for sale of defence equipment besides offering to transfer cutting-edge technology through JVs to give a boost to Indian public and private defence companies.

Tokyo made these significant offers to New Delhi recently through official channels, sources said here on Sunday. Welcoming the gesture from one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of defence technology, India, however, informed Japan that its companies can participate through global competition. Tokyo has now allowed some of its firms to respond to the Indian Navy's tender for seaplanes.

After facing nuclear holocaust in World War II, Japan, so far, produced weapons for its self-defence and practiced pacifist policies regarding export of weapons. Incidentally, Japan imports most of its big-ticket weaponry from the US through transfer of technology and, in turn, exports state-of-the-art

equipment to the US.

However, Japan now wants to break this isolation due to growing economic and strategic challenges from China.



Incidentally, some Japanese armament manufacturing companies for the first time took part in international defence exhibition, Def-Expo, organised in Delhi earlier this year. India plans to buy weapons and defence equipment worth over 30 billion dollars in the next five to seven years and Japan is keen to have its presence in the Indian market, sources said.

In the past few years Japan has consciously forged close strategic relations with India given its growing maritime prowess in the Indian Ocean region and Asia. Willing to export weapons to India is part of Japan's strategic vision to negate Chinese influence in East and South China Sea by having close relations with other countries like Indonesia and Philippines.

Moreover, India and Japan have in the past conducted exercises between Coast Guards of two countries. For the first time they will have a full-fledged naval exercise later this year. Army Chief General Bikram Singh will also visit Tokyo early next month and is likely to explore possibilities of having first-ever joint exercises with the Japanese Army.

Besides this, Staff Exchanges between Japan Air Defence Force (ASDF) and Indian Air Force will be held in 2012 and be developed to Staff Talks at the earliest date.

The groundwork for these exercises and exchanges was done by Defence Minister AK Antony during his visit to Japan in November last year. While taking stock of maritime security and anti-piracy measures with his counterpart Yasuo Ichikawa, he also stressed for closer defence ties with Japan in the coming years.

To keep China at arm's length, Japan to export arms

 

[Ray]

Re: To keep China at arm's length, Japan to export arms to India

This will surely get China's goat!

Arigatou gozaimasu

 

[mki]

Re: To keep China at arm's length, Japan to export arms to India

With in next 1-2 months CCP (Barking dogs) will issue another warning to india regarding military cooperation between india and japan.

 

[ice berg]

I dont see the big deal here. India is the worlds largeste weapon importer. They are buying weapons from US, Russia, Israel etc. and everything from bullets to jets.

I say kudos for finding another vendor.